Cortisol is synonymous with stress. However, according to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, it isn’t really the ‘stress hormone’ we all think it is. In today’s episode, Dr. Feldman Barrett shares a different view on how the brain handles stress and uncertainty, and that it is always predicting and shaping our reality.

She talks about "body budgeting" and how it is linked to depression and anxiety, and her take on SSRIs and mental health made me rethink everything I thought I knew about the "fight or flight" concept.

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a university professor, psychologist and neuroscientist. She's one of the most cited scientists in the world, with over 270 published papers. Her work has shaped our understanding of emotions, the mind, and the brain, and she has written two books that break down complex brain science for everyone. 

If you want to understand your emotions or improve your mental health, you need to hear this, and make sure you add her books to your reading list: "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain" and "How Emotions Are Made". 

This episode might just change how you see your brain and emotions, and how you experience things on a daily basis.

Sarah Ann

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If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:

4 Types of Stress: How to Manage Each One | Mo Gawdat & Alice Law

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Dr. Shefali: How To BREAK FREE From The Self-Awareness TRAP

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Mo Gawdat: How To Transform Stress Into Success

https://youtu.be/5THJeXv5X7s?si=fkAX9baNqJ4isyC0

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Highlights:

• Introduction: Rethinking Emotions (00:00 )
• The Science of Emotions: Challenging Traditional Views (00:50 )
• Pixar's Inside Out: A New Perspective on Emotions (08:36 )
• Emotional Intelligence: Strategies for Managing Feelings (17:00 )
• The Body Budget: How Mood Affects Your Health (23:33 )
• Understanding Mental Health: Depression and Anxiety Explained (28:33 )
• Mindfulness Techniques: Reframing Negative Thoughts (36:37 )
• Diet's Role in Depression and Treatment (42:44 )
• Debunking Common Stress and Cortisol Myths (55:54 )
• Fight, Flight, or Fiction? The Truth About Our Stress Response (01:00:50 )
• Self-Compassion: The Key to Emotional Well-being (01:08:22 )
• Conclusion and Future Research in Emotional Health (01:13:02 )